Air Canada Begins Regional Bus Operations

Air Canada has begun its first bus operations, having launched connections between Toronto Pearson International Airport and two smaller airports in southern Ontario. The airline’s new regional bus service is operated in partnership with coach operator Landline.

Details: Air Canada’s New Regional Bus Connections

Starting on May 1, 2024, Air Canada is offering a bus service between Toronto Pearson with John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport and Region of Waterloo International Airport. The bus option is only available as a connection to or from a flight at Toronto Pearson, meaning that it can only be booked as part of an itinerary that includes a flight.

Air Canada is offering six daily round trips on each of the two bus routes, with departure times spread throughout the day. The bus portion of the journey is assigned a flight number and is marked with a “operated by The Landline Company” designation when booking, as well as a notice that the trip will include a bus ride. The trips between Toronto Pearson and the Hamilton and Region of Waterloo Airports have block times of 60 to 90 minutes, depending on the time of day. Air Canada has stated that the new service is a trial and could be expanded to other parts of the country in the future.

According to the airline, travelers departing from the Hamilton and Region of Waterloo airports will check in online or at the two airports. They will then board the coach buses and proceed to the departures level with their baggage upon arrival at Toronto Pearson. For those flying into Toronto Pearson, passengers will collect their bags before boarding the buses. In the event of a delay, including a coach delay, travelers will be automatically rebooked as if they were traveling on an air-only itinerary.

“We are excited to launch this new service in collaboration with The Landline Company, offering our customers a convenient, stress-free multimodal option that will make connections easy and travel more seamless,” said Air Canada’s Director of Regional Airlines and Markets Ranbir Singh in a news release. “We are committed to improving regional services and this innovative partnership is a testament to that.”

Air Canada will begin a pilot project with regional bus service between Toronto Pearson and John C. Munro Hamilton International Airport and the Region of Waterloo International Airport in May 2024, in partnership with Landline (Photo: Air Canada)

Air Canada’s New Partnership with Landline

Landline is an American motorcoach company that specializes in air-to-ground connections. The buses operating for Air Canada are built in Canada by Canadian bus manufacturer Prevost. Each coach has 36 leather seats in a 2-1 configuration, along with in-seat power, a tray table, overhead storage, free WiFi, and an onboard lavatory. There is also a power lift for travelers who require mobility aids.

Although Air Canada is Landline’s first international partner, the airline has grown steadily since establishing its first airline partnership in 2019 with Sun Country Airlines. The Colorado-based company also currently operates regional bus connections for American Airlines out of Philadelphia and for United Airlines out of Denver and Newark.

“We are thrilled to launch our premium connecting service from Hamilton and the Region of Waterloo in partnership with Air Canada,” said Nick Johnson, Vice President, Commercial for Landline. “In addition to premium onboard amenities, and a protected flight connection on every trip, passengers can now book and ride our luxury motorcoach for no additional cost when paired with their Air Canada flight.”

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Andrew Chen

Andrew is a lifelong lover of aviation and travel. He has flown all over the world and is fascinated by the workings of the air travel industry. As a private pilot and glider pilot who has worked with airlines, airports and other industry stakeholders, he is always excited to share his passion for aviation with others. In addition to being a writer, he also hosts Flying Smarter, an educational travel podcast that explores the complex world of air travel to help listeners become better-informed and savvier travelers.

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